Blank conveyer board



W. W. DAVIDSON BLANK ooNvEYER BOARD June 8, 1937.-

Filed sept. 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 8, 1937. w. w. DAVIDSON BLANK coNvEYER BOARD Fi1`e`d Sept. 27, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented `lune 8,v 1937 UNITED sTss PATENT OFFICE BLANK CONVEYER BGARD William Ward Davidson, Evanston, Ill. 4 Application September 27, 1935, Serial No. 42,448

s claims. (ci 271-48) This invention relates to conveyer boards particularly designed for delivering blanks from a blank separating machine to a primary machine in association with which said blank separating machine is operatively mounted, which for denite illustration we may assume is a commercially known form or type of printing press, particularly designed and adapted for oiiice use;`and relates particularly to the type of conveyer board in which register of fed blanks with the feeding' and printing devices of the primary machine is eifected by the use of diagonal tapes, acting in cooperation with a device which, appropriately, may be designated a register guide. V

By the designation blanks as used herein, I include sheets of paper, cards, envelopes, book signatures, pamphlets and the like.

Among the objects of the`invention are:

To provide a conveyer board of the type and for the purpose specified, which is simple and relatively inexpensive in construction, strong, durable and effective and dependable in operation; j

To provide a conveyer board -of the type and for the purpose specified, which comprises means foreiecting both a coarse and, relatively, a very line and accurate adjustment and alignmentof the register guide relative to the printing and feeding devices of the primary machine, whereby practically perfect registration of fed blanks with e said printing and feeding devices may quickly and conveniently be effected;

To provide for securing the register guide in prises the various features, combinations of fea-- tures and details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, in which the invention is fully illustrated,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a conveyer board embodying my invention and improvements;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal, sectional sideview on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal', sectional side view on the line 3,-3 of Fig. 1; i

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional end view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1; and

Figures 5 and 6 are enlarged, fragmentary detail views.

`Describing the invention with reference to the drawings, in which, for purposes of convenient reference, A designates my improved conveyer board as a whole, which we Will assume, is operatively mounted between the discharge end of a blank separating machine, not shown, and the receiving end of a primary machine, only the Y stop fingers a of whichfor timing delivery of fed blanks to the feed devices of said primary machine-are shown.

Excepting as regards features and details yof construction, which hereinafter may be particularly described and pointed out, the conveyer board A is of a usual and well known type, and will readily be understood by persons familiar with such devices from an examination of the drawings, without a description thereof in any considerable detail.

Briey, said conveyer board A, consists of side frames I, I', which are rigidly connected in desired spaced relation by transverse rods 2, 2'.

As shown, see particularly Fig. 4, the side frames 'L' I', are made in vthe form of channels and are assembled with their channelled sides facing inwards. As shown, also, said side frames I, I', are connected by a transverse rod 3, the ends of which are secured in holes formed in upwardly extending lugs or projections 4, 4',

formed on said side frames I, I', preferably being formed integral therewith, therelation being such that said rod 3 will be spaced vertically from the blank supporting and feeding devices of said conveyer board. Supported on said rod 3 are certain devices, as hereinafter will be explained.

Rotatably mounted in bearings in the side frames I, I', of the conveyer board, are rollers 5, 5', to which, in operation, rotation isimparted by driving connection with a suitable .source of power, as by a belt B adjusted to a pulley secured to the shaft of one of said rollers, as shown, to the shaft of the roller 5, and-to a driven pulley on the primary machine, not shown, but as will lreadily be understood. Adjusted to the rollers 5, 5', are conveyer tapes or belts l, by which rotatnng will be imparted to the roller 5 from the roller 5, and onto which separated blanks are delivered from the blank separating machine, and by which said blanks will be carried downwards aiong said conveyer board to effect contact of the leading edges thereof with the stop ngers a, one of said blanks being indicated at 8, Figs. l and 4.

As shown, the rollers 5, 5', are made of suitable relatively' light weight material-preferably wood-and are mounted by means of shafts 9, to which they are secured, said shafts being rotatably mounted in bearings in the side frames I, I', of the conveyer board, the relation being such that said rollers will be parallel with each other and their axes will extend diagonally of the' conveyer board as shown, see Fig. l, whereby fed blanks will be moved laterally to eiect Contact of corresponding edges of said blanks with a register guide, designated as a whole a', adjustably mounted on said conveyer board to provide for registering fed blanks with the feed and imprinting devices of the primary machine, as presently -fully described, in a usual manner.

In what I now consider a preferable arrangement, the rollers 5, 5', are installed in such angular relation, that the tapes or belts l, will extend at an angle of substantially three degrees (3) to the center line of the conveyer board. However, within the scope and-contemplation of my invention this relation may be varied'as desired.

. As shown, the tapesv or belts 1 arey subjected to desired tension in operation, by a tension device consisting, as shown, of a rod I0 secured in the ends of arms II pivoted to bosses I2 on the side frames I, I', of the conveyer board, best shown in Fig. l, the bottom laps of said tapes running under said tension rod, and the arms II being adapted to be secured in positions corresponding to desired tension of the conveyer tapes or belts, by suitable means, as clamping screws I3, which extend through holes in the pivoted ends of said arms and have threaded engagement with holes formed in the ends of the bosses I2, as will readily .be understood.

As. shown, also,-excepting a tape 'l' mounted in association with the register guide a', as presently describedthe tapes or belts 'I are maintained in desired spaced relation and alignment. by suitable guides secured on the `tension rod 4Ill with capacity for axial adjustment thereon. While the invention contemplates the use of any desired or approved form of guides for this purpose, what I now consider preferable guides consist of open-sided, substantially rectangular guide clips I5, each comprising end portions I6, I6', rigidly connected in spaced relation by an intermediate portion |62. end portions I6, I6' of said clips are suiliciently wide to receive the tapes or belts 1, and said end a' is as follows: Rotatably mounted against end- Wise movement in the side frames I, I', substantially parallel with the rollers 5, 5', to which the tapes 1, 1', are adjusted, is a rod I8, a section of which adjacent the side frame I, is screw-threaded and has threaded engagement with a holel formed in a bracket I 9, see Fig. 4. As shown, also, a hollow boss 20 is formed on the lower end of the bracket I9, secured in engagement with which is one end of a sleeve 2l which encloses the threaded end of the rod I8, the interior diam.-

The spaces between the' eter of said sleeve being suiciently larger than the rod I8 to permit said rod to turn freely therein without binding.

At the upper end of said bracket I9 is a relatively'thick portion, formed in which is a groove '22 secured in which, at about its longitudinal center, is a bar 24, on which the register guide proper 25 is operatively mountedl` As shown', said register guide proper consists of an angle bar made of thin sheet metal, preferably chromium plated, and the means for mounting said guide is as follows: Threaded, brazed, welded or otherwise secured to said register guide proper at opposite sides of the bracket I9, and in such positions that they will rest, respectively, upon the transverse rods 2, 2', or other xed parts of the conveyer board, are angle plates 26, see Figs. l, 2 and 5, secured in which are studs 21 which extend through holes 28 formed in the bar 24 adjacent its opposite ends, threaded to the outer ends of which, respectively, are thumb nuts 29, coil springs 30, which surround said studs 2l as guides, being inserted between said register guide, proper and the bar 24, as clearly shown in said Figs. 1 and 5. Also, as shown, the register guide proper is adapted to be secured yieldin'gly in different adjusted positions by engagement of fine and, preferably, angular teeth formed on the nuts 29 and bar 2li, as shown at 3I, Figs. 1 and I5. Obviously, the shape in cross-section of theregister guide proper 25 may be varied as desired, to meet conditions.

Also while I consider the particular means shown for mounting said register guide proper as preferable, said mounting means-within the scope and contemplation of the inventionadmits of a wide range ofvariation and modication.

Also, to provide for installing the register guide proper 25 in desired relation to fed blanks, substantially as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, in which, preferably, said register guide proper will rest upon the rods 2, 2', the top side of the hollow boss 20 is cut away so that it will form a surface positioned, substantially, in a plane tangent to the top sides of saidv rods 2, 2', as best shown in Fig. 6. As shown, said sleeve is threaded into said boss, but my invention contemplates the use of any desire and suitable means for this purpose.

As mounted for operation, the register guinea', together with 'the register guide proper, has capacity for a coarse adjustment by means of' the rod I8, a portionL of which, as stated, has

screw-threaded engagement with a correspond! ingly threaded hole in 'the bracket I9; and, alst-y` a very fine adjustment by means of the thumb nuts 29 threaded to the studs 2l, and the springs'v 30. With the construction shown and described the bar 24 will be rigidly supported in dierent adjusted positions, while opposite ends of the register guide proper 25 will be yieldingly supported and separately adjustable to provide for accurately aligning said register guide proper with the feed devices of the primary machine.

As shown, rotation of the screwthreaded rod I8 is eiected by means of a knurled knob or handle 32 secured thereto, and which is adapted to be lockedin different adjusted positions by a vspring latch 33 secured to the side frame I" of the conveyer board, a tooth on. which is .adapted f to engage notched teeth on the knob or handle 32. as shown at 34. Figs. 1 and 4.

In accordance with the invention, the tape J 'I' mounted in association with the register guid,p

0;', instead of being manually adjustable-in the Y,

manner of the tapes 'I-is automatically adjustable with'the register guide a', by turning movement of the-rod I8 to adjust said register guide transversely of the conveyer board A in one direction or the other, as may be desired; As shown, lthe means for this purpose consist of spaced pins I2 secured in the angle 28 adjacent the receiving end of the conveyer board, as installed for use, between which the bottom lap of the tape 1 passes-'with vonly operating clearance, as bestshown in Fig. 5.

' tact therewith. As shown, said balls are loosely board is mounted, the stop confined in holes or openings formed in a frame 39 supported above said roller 35, in a usual manner. Y

With theconstruction shown and described, it is obvious that said roller 35 and balls 38, will operate` to feed blanks delivered thereto onto the feed tapes 1, 1', by which they will be carried downwards along said conveyer board and presented to the feed devices of the' primary machine in association with which said conveyer fingers a. see Figs. l and 3, operating to synchronize the movement of the blanks with the action of the feed and imprinting devices of said primary machine. Y

The register guide a' having been adjusted in the manner heretofore described, to bring the guide proper 25 into position to eiect register of fed blanks with the feed and imprinting'devices of a primary-machine in association with which the conveyer board may be installed for use, it is, obvious that. due to the convergence of the tapes or belts 1, 1', from the receiving to the discharge end of said conveyer board, towards 1 next succeeding blank en said register guide proper be moved bodily towards said register guide proper edges contact therewith.

In practice, the yfeed roller 35 is driven continuously, in operation, and at a suiilciently higher peripheral speed than the separator roller of the blank separating and feeding machine, that a preceding blank delivered onto the conveyer board will be presented to the primary machine in register with the feed devices a thereof, before the is presented to the roller 35 by said blank separating and feeding machine. and the relation being such, also, that the feed 25, fed blanks 8 will the guide surface of until their proximate devices of said primary. machine having been` actuated to feed a blank and the stop fingers a, having been movedinto position to release a'blank in the grip of the feed devices of saidprimary machine, will be returned to position to intercept the next'succeeding fed blank, this sequence being epeatedin continuous succession during operaion.

As shown, the feed roller 35, the ball frame 38 and the pivotedV plate 40-w-hich we will assume is constructed and arranged to divert superposed blanks presented theretoform parts of the con-l veyer board, but that said plate 40 is actuated and controlled to divert saidsuperposed blanks rod 54 is prevented by by meansas a caliper member-mounted on the feeder in association Vwith the blank separating and feeding devices thereof, and operatively vconnected to said plate 48. However, said plate merely exemplifies any desired orl approved form of deilector for the purpose, and may equally well be mounted on the feeder and form part thereof.

As shown, the frame 38 admits of limited turn-- ing movement on studs 4I, 4i' secured in upward extensions 42 on the side frames I, I', of the con'-- veyer board and being fitted to bearings formed in lugs 43, which preferably form integral parts of the frame 38. As shown, also, the iframel 38 is supported in operative position by arms 44 secured to opposite ends'of the plate 45, which Vmay be described as forming the body of the.

frame 38, said arms extending over and resting upon the side frame members I, I', of the conveyer board in position to confine the balls 38 in operative contact with the roller 35. As shown.

also, raising movement of the frame 38 is limited by a rod 48 secured in one or the other of the studs 4I.4

45, the relation being such that. as limited, the

4I', and which projects into the path of movement of an arm 44 secured to the plate nsl frame 39 will prevent disengagement of the balls 88 from the cage or frame A38. and will coniine said balls in operative contact with the roller 35. 38 are confined in engage- As shown, the balls ment with the holes or openings in the plate 45 forming part of the frame 38,'by a rod 41 supported on the plate 45 above said balls, as by posts 48 provided with holes in which the ends of said rod 41 are secured, as by a set screw 48,

. In operation,'fed blanks are guided from the roller onto the tapes 1, 1', by the plate 45 and fingers 50, 55', supported on the rod 3, and which project over said plate,- the undersides of said iingers, as' shown, diverging from said plate away from said rod. In the preferable construction shown. the fingers 55 are secured to the rod 3 by means of heads 5I formed thereon, said heads being provided with holes to receive said rod and being secured in desired adjustment thereon by. set screws 52.

As shown. also, the finger 50'. is formed on the lower member of a head 582, which is split throughv the axis of the hole through which the rod 3V passes and is adapted to be clamped to the rod 3 by screws 58, as shown.

Also, secured to the upper member of the head towards the delivery end of the conveyer board and in spaced, substantially parallel relation to the plane defined by the top laps of the feed tapes 1, 1', mounted on which, so as to be adjustable lengthwise thereof, is a head 55. As shown, saidhead is provided with a hole slidably fitted to said rod. and is adapted to be secured In adjusted positions thereon by a set screw 58. As shown, disengagement of the head from the means of a disk 51, the diameter of which exceeds that ofsaid rod, and which is detachably secured to the outer end thereof, as shown by a screw 58, which extends through a hole in said disk and has threaded engagement with a hole formed in the endl of said rod.

Pivoted to the head 55 by means of'va stud 58 withits bristles extending in the direction of the discharge end of the conveyer boardl and resting on one of the -feed tapes 1, 1', is a brush 50. ,In operation said brush is Amounted on the rod 54 in such position that the ends of the brust bristies will rest against the following edges of fed blanks when the leading edges thereof are inl contact' with the stop fingers a of theI primary machine, whereby said blanks will be prevented 5 from bouncing backwardsaway from said stop fingersas might occur should 'said blanks hit said ngers' when moving with any considerable speed and with said blanks unrestrained. 'Obvi-g ously, also, said brush will operate to hold fedblanks in contact with the belts or tapes 1 with a light pressure which will insure feeding of said blanks downwards along the conveyer board without exerting any appreciable frictional resistance -to movement of said blanks with the feed tapes.

As shown, also, fedblanks are held in frictional engagement withv the feed tapes 1,.'I. by l straps 8l, corresponding ends of which are secured to the rod 3 and which extend from said rod downwards along the conveyer board, preferably terminating only a short distance from4 A its discharge end, and which overlie the feed tapes 1,1'. Also. in what I now consider preferable construction, the straps 6I are secured in frictional engagement with the rod 3, the relation beingv such that by turning the attached ends of said straps on the supporting rod 3 in one direction or the other, the pressure thereof onfed blanks may be increased or decreased, as desired, to meet different operating conditions.

` As shown, the means for securing said straps to said rod 3, consists'of spring clip 62adjustably secured to vsaid straps, as by screws, and which extend over said rod, said clips being so shapedand proportioned that when drawn into close engagement with said rod, the frictionbetween said clips and rod will support said strapsin different positions corresponding to desired pressure thereof on the fed blanks.

While I consider the embodiment of the invention herein shown and described as desirable and preferable, I do not desire to limit the invention or the protection of the patent thereto, as within the scope and contemplation of my invention I desire to extend the protection of the comes within the appended claims.

patent to any construction or arrangement which Iclaim:l "v 1. In a conveyer board forthe purpose specified, the combination` of aframe, blank feed-` ing means mounted thereon-comprising feed rollers, including a driven roller, tapes adjusted to said rollers, a register guideffor effecting alignment of fed blanks with associated devices, comprising a register guide proper, means for adjusting -said register guide proper ltransversely of the conveyer board, and spaced projections which depend therefrom, betweenv which the feed tape proximate' said register guide passes. 5

the adjusting rod to permit turning movement' thereof without binding.

3. The conveyer board specified in claim `l, and means for operatively mounting the register guideA proper comprising a transverse rod rotatably mounted in the conveyer board frame, a portion of which adjacent the register guide is screw-threaded, a bracket provided with av screwthreaded hole-which the threaded portion of said rod engages, a hollow boss on the lower end of' said bracket, a sleeve an end of which is secured in said `hollow boss and which encloses the screwthreaded end of said adjusting rod, the inside diameter of said sleeve being sufilciently larger than the adjusting rod to permit turning movement thereof without binding, and the' top of said hollow boss being cut away substantially in the plane defined by theundersideof the register guide proper, as installed for use.

' WM. WARD DAVIDSON. 

